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Story by, Paul Mensah Nsor
Accra, Ghana - National Sand & Stone Tipper Truck Drivers have leveled serious accusations against government institutions, arguing that the current axle weight enforcement system is fundamentally broken and unfairly targets drivers. The press conference, led by Anthony Mensah, National P.R.O, revealed a complex narrative of institutional failure, regulatory confusion, and practical impossibilities faced by truck drivers in meeting current weight regulations.
The drivers highlighted critical discrepancies in weight regulations, with the legal limit initially set at 27 tons and later revised to 30.5 tons.
Technical Breakdown of OverloadiNational Sand & Stone Tipper Truck Drivers Press Release on Axle WeighNational Sand & Stone Tipper Truck Drivers Press Release on Axle Weight.
A typical Chinese solid truck has a net weight of 16 tons and a gross weight capacity of 25 tons, making it difficult to carry the allowed payload.
Overloading is not a result of deliberate misconduct but stems from lack of weighing equipment at loading points, customer demand for full truck capacity, and inconsistent enforcement by government agencies.
Government bodies, including the Ghana Standards Authority, Department of Road and Highways, and Drivers and Vehicle Licensing Authority, are accused of systematic negligence.
The drivers presented a decade-long paper trail of petitions and communications with government officials, demonstrating their consistent efforts to address these systemic issues. They demanded that state-owned tipper trucks be subjected to the same rigorous weighing bridge checks, calling for complete transparency and fair enforcement.
"This crisis is not the result of driver indiscipline alone," the lead speaker emphasized, "but a failure of institutions and systems."
The press conference sheds light on the technical complexities of axle weight regulations and exposes the human cost of bureaucratic inefficiency. Truck drivers are caught between impossible regulatory standards, customer expectations, and potential legal repercussions.
Implications and Recommendations:
- Urgent review of current axle weight regulations.
- Investment in weighing infrastructure at loading points.
- Clear, implementable guidelines for truck loading.
- Fair and consistent enforcement across all vehicle types.
